How To Clean Your House with Weekly Zone Cleaning
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The final step in a complete housekeeping routine is deep cleaning! I have implemented a new zone cleaning routine this year. I now do some of my deep cleaning tasks with weekly zone cleaning.
I started weekly zone cleaning because I was so tired of never getting around to getting some essential tasks completed. I always planned to clean my oven, but then never did. I always planned to wipe down the baseboards, but never did. I always planned to wipe down the cabinets, but oops, I forgot. When you live with lots of little children, those areas do get dirty and need to be cleaned! Zone cleaning has helped me get these tasks done!
What is Weekly Zone Cleaning?
Weekly zone cleaning is basically dividing your home into different “zones” and focusing only on that zone each week.
When you zone clean, you are taking the tasks that need to be done once every month or two, and dividing them up over the course of a week so ultimately you only spend 10-15 minutes per day deep cleaning.
For example, when I work in zone 1, which is my kitchen, I do that for one entire week. Over the course of that week, I divide the deep cleaning kitchen tasks up over each day.
So, on Monday I will clean out the fridge and pantry. On Tuesday I will clean the oven, stove top, and microwave. On Wednesday, I will clean out the drawers and cabinets. On Thursday I will clean the baseboards and the outside of the cabinets. On Friday I will clean the inside windows in that room and catch up on anything I may have missed.
My weekly zone cleaning system does not take the place of something like spring cleaning in which you will want to move appliances to clean under them and wash draperies and such.
The beauty of the zone cleaning system is that your home never gets too dirty and when you do a big job like spring cleaning, it will be much easier to accomplish than if you had not been zone cleaning throughout the year.
How To Create Your Own Zone Cleaning System
First, divide your home into cleaning zones.
I have seven zones:
- Kitchen
- Entryway/Coat Closet
- Living Room
- Bathroom/Linen Closet/Laundry Closet
- Kids’ Bedroom
- Master Bedroom/Bathroom
- Office
Then plan out your tasks for each room.
Kitchen – baseboards, cabinets, oven, fridge, pantry, drawers, etc.
You will want to do all the little detail cleaning that you do not do during your daily and weekly tasks.
These tasks will typically take you 10-15 minutes per day. Some more difficult tasks may take 20 minutes. You may also find that the first time you attempt zone cleaning, it takes you much longer than the 10-15 minutes. That’s okay! If you haven’t cleaned a particular appliance all year or decluttered a closet in months, the job will be bigger.
Once you have gone through your zones the first time, the second time will be much easier because you will have recently cleaned the area and there will be less to do!
Need detailed zone cleaning lists? Here you go!
- Bathroom zone cleaning
- Dining Room Zone Cleaning
- Kitchen Zone Cleaning
- Living Room Zone Cleaning
- Master Bedroom Zone Cleaning
Specific Cleaning Tips for Cleaning Zones
If you’re deep cleaning a specific zone, you may need some tips for cleaning certain appliances or items. We’ll cover that here!
- How To Deep Clean a Top Loading Washing Machine – I have a top loading washing machine that gets pretty gunked up sometimes. When I am zone cleaning my laundry room, this is how I clean my washing machine.
- How To Clean a Microwave – Learn how to easily clean your microwave when zone cleaning your kitchen!
- How To Clean Window Sills and Tracks – Window sills and tracks are often neglected. Learn how to easily clean them with this simple tutorial.
- How To Clean Glass Shower Doors – Glass shower doors can be such a pain to keep clean. Follow this tutorial for sparkling shower doors!
- How To Clean the Refrigerator – Tackle cleaning all of your refrigerator with these steps!
- How To Clean Your Range Hood Filters – These areas are often forgotten. Let’s clean these nasty filters with this tutorial.
Don’t forget about home maintenance!
This home maintenance checklist will help you keep up with maintaining the nuts and bolts of your home!
I actually have been trying out something similar with my home, and am finding it to be a success. My home has looked the best it has in a long while. I just had to figure out something that worked for me. Thanks so much for sharing!
Awesome, Laurie!
Trying to get there. Taking a little longer for us as I have just now got my husband on the ban wagon of decluttering. But we are getting there/ Thanks for your help. You are showing us easier ways to do things. I appreciate that.
Thanks,
Nana-Joan
I love how you call it – “weekly zone cleaning”. And it’s great that you just need to clean 15 minutes a day and you basically deep clean everything. I usually just clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner, clean the dust, and then just wait till I have more free time to really get the job done. But even then I usually get tired so basically I always have something that stays as it was. I’d say that I don’t have weekly zone cleaning but monthly. And that’s bad. So your tips will definitely help me. Thank you! π
I like your divide and rule method. Defining different zones is a brilliant idea to stay on track while cleaning. I am a single guy, and I think that your tips are handy.
I usually just clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner. Your tips will definitely help me. I will try this today! Thanks!
I will try this today to clean my floor and home…Thanks !
Zone cleaning is such a great concept! Thanks for sharing:) It’s great that it will only take 10-15 mins of cleaning for each zone. Will try out zone cleaning very soon!
Iβm Trying to get there. Taking a little longer for me as I am just returning to work do to the Federal Govt shut down. Iβm sure this divide and conquer will help me. Iβm use to just dusting, vacuuming and wiping down counters and tables. Thanks so much for the info itβs so helpful.
I am trying to get there and just let me tell you I like your divide and rule method. Defining different zones is a great idea to stay on track while. Your methods and tips will be handy.
Weekly zone cleaning. I definitely like the sound of that, and I can’t wait to put this plan into action.
weekly cleaning? why not! i love the idea and love the tips!!
You were too organized! From different zones to time frames. I must’ve followed these tips next time. Thanks for your brilliant idea!
Learn so many things from you also. Keep this up.
I have benefited greatly from your article. Especially the bathroom cleaning part.